Norwegian frigate joins Queen Elizabeth Carrier Battle Group

The Queen Elizabeth Carrier Battle Group formed up with a new addition just days from home.

According to the Royal Navy, the Norwegian Navy’s newest frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl.

“Slipping into the battle group for the second time alongside HMS Northumberland and tanker RFA Tideforce is the Norwegian Navy’s newest frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl as the Westlant 19 deployment ends as it began: a spot of NATO action. The curtain raised on the deployment in September with a NATO anti-submarine exercise, Cutlass Fury, hosted by the Canadians and it ends with yet more combined NATO/anti-submarine warfare training in the Western Atlantic. It’s the last act of a busy three months away for the Portsmouth-based carrier which hosted British F-35 Lightning jets for the first time at sea – followed by US Marine Corps doing the very same.

The future flagship embarked three UK jets from 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) based at Edwards Air Force Base in California, as well as three which crossed the Atlantic from RAF Marham. The 5 week operational test phase, headed up by the Air Warfare Centre, was designed to provide ‘end-to-end’ testing of the jets and the combined Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel who operate and support the squadrons.

The tests included: mission briefs; preparation of the jets – including arming them using the ship’s unique automated weapon handling system; launching; fighting the mission (including weapons drops) and returning to Queen Elizabeth.”

Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Cdre Steve Moorhouse said:

“This has been an extremely successful deployment for HMS Queen Elizabeth. It’s all been about increasing the complexity and tempo of our activity, building the capability of the strike group and testing ourselves in a demanding training environment with our close partners from the US Navy and Marine Corps. Embarking UK F-35B Lightning for the first time and integrating them within the carrier strike group is a significant milestone and we are well set for an equally demanding 2020 and our first operational deployment in 2021.”

Captain James Blackmore, Commander of the Air Group, added:

“The five-week period of operational tests with UK F-35s was significant and historic. As the last pilot to fly Harrier from the deck of HMS Ark Royal in 2010, it filled me with tremendous pride to see UK fixed wing aircraft operate once more from a British carrier.”

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Is QE developing some nice scorch marks?

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1 month ago

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Levi Goldsteinberg

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Certainly looks like it – I expect you would too if you had F-35s landing on you all hours of the day

On a more serious note, have they abandoned the practice of the rolling landing?

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I suppose they would only use a rolling landing when returning with heavy weapons…or practicing. I doubt they would use it as standard landing practice!

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1 month ago

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csm

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Not at all. I believe the optical landing system has not been installed on the QE yet so its quite a challenge and the SRVL in Oct was done as a proof of concept with more thorough testing to be undertaken next year to establish operating parameters.

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1 month ago

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spyintheskyuk

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Absolutely right the system has been fitted to PoW and is to be retrofitted to QE one presumes before she does any more serious testing, though not sure when. Meanwhile proof of concept was indeed carried out as we saw on the TV series recently.

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What is the advantage to a rolling landing if the weight of the aircraft is not a consideration?

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1 month ago

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Jordo

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I believe it would be mostly for currency if weight is not a concern.

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1 month ago

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Glass Half Full

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In addition to the economics of not having to potentially dump weapons and/or fuel before a vertical landing, SRVL may also enable more rapid aircraft recovery.

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1 month ago

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andy reeves

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although more aircraft being able to fly slowly enough would open up the range of aircraft beyond just the f 35

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1 month ago

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expat

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It saves the deck coating as the hot exhaust gas is not focused in one spot and as the wings supply lift the lift fan is under less stress so extends the life. Its early days but it could become the norm.

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1 month ago

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andy reeves

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Thanks Andy….but I thought you only got BAE rash around the Nuts 🙂

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1 month ago

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robert1

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i thought it was glue around the nuts that was the main problem

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1 month ago

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robert1

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that’s on the sorry i meant glue

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1 month ago

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Geoffrey Simon Hicking

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The finest medium carrier ever made. 🙂

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1 month ago

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Geoffrey Hicking

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Sigh… please ignore. This issue has already been dealt with. They are not medium carriers and I apologise for my comment.

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1 month ago

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Cam

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Will the British F35s sail home with her?

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1 month ago

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Daniele Mandelli

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Doubt it.

If they did they should depart before she gets into Pompey.

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1 month ago

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andy reeves

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most warships returning to u.k naval bases disembark the air wing to say RNAS culdrose

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1 month ago

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GWM

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They left a while ago.

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1 month ago

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Rfn_Weston

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I’ve only just realized that this is basically a Type 31 escorting the QE! Although one suspects with an increase to 2 x 8 cell Mk41 VLS, 8 x NSM Canisters, 4 x torpedo launchers and the 76mm Otto – it is slightly more well armed than its RN cousin will be…

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1 month ago

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MSR

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The Norwegian frigate is not equivalent to a Type 31. It is a full fat ASW frigate with rafted machinery and reduced acoustic signature. The fact that it “only” has a small VLS is not relevent. It is nit an area defence asset. The VLS is primarily for self defence and limited local area defence. It has a very capable CMS and sensor suite.

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1 month ago

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Rfn_Weston

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I was coming from an aesthetics point of view, with both being based on the Arrowhead design. You seem to have worked yourself up a little there old bean in thinking I am suggesting the Type 31 is the better vessel. Read the post again, carefully, and you’ll see I was actually stating the opposite. Why you’re banging on about ‘only’ having a small number of VLS is beyond me, but keep kicking on fella, you’re doing just great.

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1 month ago

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andy reeves

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lets wait and see, at the rate the type 26 and 31 specs are on the back of a fag packet somewhere

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1 month ago

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Trevor

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I am of course pretty dim, fella, compared to your high intellect but your same condescending implication re. T31s struck me as well as did the responder.

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1 month ago

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andy reeves

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sorry trev do you mean me? or the one above?

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1 month ago

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Trevor

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Not you.

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1 month ago

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Glass Half Full

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You are confused. They are not both based on Arrowhead (or Iver Huitfeldt which I assume is what your meant?) The Norwegian frigate is based on a Spanish frigate design.

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1 month ago

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MSR

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I withdraw my earlier remarks based on the misreading you pointed out. In my defence, I claim a flu induced fog of the mind! Posting crap online is bith the “only” thing I can do right now, and also the last thing I should be doing 😉

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1 month ago

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Rfn_weston

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It would appear we are both mistaken!!

I thought both were based on Arrowhead!

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1 month ago

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VeronicaSLinton

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1 month ago

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robert1

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come one come all, the more, the merrier integration training may well be needed one day so integrated naval exercises will go a long way towards effectiveness

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1 month ago

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andy reeves

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